Traverse City Travel Blog

Whether you’re local or visiting, spending Thanksgiving 2025 in Traverse City is bound to be filled with joy, warmth, and plenty of delicious memories. Gather around the table with loved ones and enjoy a meal cooked by local northern Michigan chefs. 

Do you have “Lager Love” or does a “Hop Harvest” sound more your style? Would you prefer a “Pilsner Party” or a “Stout Showdown?”

Each day of this year’s Traverse City Beer Week, Nov. 7-15, will feature a special theme that highlights one of the many kinds of inventive brews crafted locally in the Traverse City area. You can visit any of the participating breweries, pubs, and restaurants and get discounts with the Traverse City Beer Week passport – plus the chance to try some special releases during the week. 

As the “Most Exciting Foodie Town” in Michigan and one of the country’s up-and-coming wine regions, the Traverse City area offers an endless buffet of delicious things to eat and drink all summer long. It only makes sense to celebrate the agricultural bounty and culinary excellence that’s so pleasing to the palates of both residents and visitors alike. 

Whether you're a foodie, a sports enthusiast, or someone who loves unique cultural experiences, Traverse City offers a plethora of events throughout the year.

Here are eight events that should be on your 2025 calendar:

Home to more than 60% of Michigan’s wine grapes, there’s plenty of reason to celebrate Michigan’s thriving wine culture in the Traverse City region. The area’s biggest celebration by far is the annual Traverse City Uncorked, a self-guided wine tour of Traverse City powered by a digital passport that every vino lover will adore. From May 2-10, experience the best of Traverse City’s wine heritage while also enjoying savings, special offers, and opportunities to win prizes. 

Wondering how it all works? Here’s what to expect at Traverse City Uncorked in 2025. 

From downhill and cross-country skiing to fat-tire biking, snowshoeing, ice skating, and more, there’s plenty of powder for every outdoor activity this year.

And guess what? Not only does going down the slopes or hiking up a frozen dune give you a full-body workout, but being out in the white stuff

Yay! It’s officially spring, and in Michigan, that means the start of months filled with sunshine and swimming, beaches, festivals, hiking, biking, fishing, and golfing. The kind of outdoor adventures that make life in the Mitten State so special.

Because if there’s one thing a Michigander knows, it’s how to make the most of every season. Whether it’s chasing sunsets over the Great Lakes, cooling off at the beach, or savoring fresh cherries straight from the orchard, summers here are meant to be lived outside. Long daylight hours turn into bonfire-lit nights, and no weekend is complete without a road trip to a favorite lakeside town.

With so many ways to experience the beauty of Michigan’s upcoming seasons, we made a list to help you plan your next getaway to northern Michigan.

Here are seven classic activities for a healthy dose of Mitten State fun in Traverse City: 

Horse-drawn sleigh rides, crackling fireplaces, and a bottle of wine to share—romance is in the air in Traverse City.

Whether you're planning the perfect Valentine's Day or simply looking for a dreamy escape, here are seven unforgettable ways to celebrate love in northern Michigan. 

Maybe your dream menu features the kind of soul food served up at the new Bushell’s Kitchen in downtown Traverse City. Or maybe you savor the Sichuan spice of TC’s Crocodile Palace.

If you love to pair farm-to-table bites with a glass of northern Michigan wine or explore Native American culinary

In October 1870, Jerome Pratt climbed the then-new Mission Point Lighthouse again and again – documenting 69 ships throughout the month in his “Record of Passing Vessels.” Chances are that each time the original lighthouse keeper scaled the heights of the tower during that first full month on duty, he also saw some spectacular fall color.

So much has changed over the past 154 years, yet Mission Point Lighthouse today bears a strong resemblance to what Pratt encountered during his 7-year stint. That includes the stunning scenery of fall.

“There’s an excellent view from the tower,” said Ginger Schultz, manager of Mission Point Lighthouse. “It’s very cool up there.”

Mission Point Lighthouse is among a handful of historic beacons in the Traverse City area that each are worth a visit this fall. And when you come to spend a few days on a tour, you can spend the night at some of Michigan’s most historical places to stay.

Take a closer look at the lighthouses of the Traverse City area and nearby places to stay: